Credentialed Commercial Asphalt Milling for Twin Cities Parking Lots and Paved Surfaces
As active members of IREM, CAI, MHA, MMHA, and MSCA — and with three-plus decades of commercial paving experience behind us — Czars of Tar, Inc. brings the credentials and precision to handle asphalt milling for commercial properties, parking facilities, and development sites throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area. We treat milling as the precision operation it is: accurate depth control, careful management of drain and curb elevations, and fully itemized estimates that account for every phase of the work before a single machine rolls onto your property.
Based in Ham Lake, MN, Czars of Tar has been serving property managers, general contractors, and developers across the Twin Cities since 1991. Whether you’re preparing a surface for overlay, correcting drainage grades, or reclaiming a worn surface layer ahead of reconstruction, our crews have the equipment and know-how to do it right.
What Is Asphalt Milling?
Asphalt milling — also referred to as cold planing or pavement profiling — is the controlled mechanical removal of a specified depth of existing asphalt using a self-propelled milling machine fitted with a rotating drum of carbide cutting teeth. The machine grinds the asphalt surface to a precise, programmable depth and deposits the removed material — called reclaimed asphalt pavement, or RAP — directly onto a conveyor and into trucks for removal or recycling.
Unlike full-depth removal, milling preserves the aggregate base and any remaining sound asphalt layers below the milling depth. It’s a cost-effective method of surface preparation that creates a clean, textured profile ready for tack coat and overlay — and one of the most environmentally responsible pavement rehabilitation processes available, since RAP is nearly 100% recyclable.
Types of Asphalt Milling We Perform
- Surface Milling for Overlay Preparation — Removal of 1.5 to 2 inches of existing asphalt to produce a clean, uniform surface at a known depth for overlay installation. Ensures consistent finished elevations at curbs, drains, and access transitions.
- Deep Milling (2–4 Inches) — Required on surfaces where multiple prior overlays have raised pavement elevation above curb heights, drain grates, or door thresholds. Milling corrects these elevation conflicts before the next overlay is applied.
- Selective and Partial Milling — Targeted milling of specific zones, lanes, or problem areas within a larger lot, addressing localized grade issues or failed sections without milling the entire surface.
- Grade Correction Milling — Variable-depth milling used to reshape drainage profiles and eliminate standing water areas (birdbathing) that have developed from pavement settlement or inadequate original grading.
- Full-Depth Reclamation — Complete mechanical reclamation of the entire asphalt section and a portion of the base layer for sites requiring ground-up reconstruction of the pavement system.
Our Asphalt Milling Process
- Pre-Milling Site Assessment and Estimate — We evaluate existing asphalt depth, surface conditions, drainage profiles, and elevation relationships at curbs, drains, and thresholds. Your written estimate is complete and itemized before we mobilize — no hidden costs added after the work begins.
- Curb and Drain Elevation Verification — We confirm that the planned milling depth will produce correct finished elevations at all curb lines, catch basin grates, garage entrances, and building thresholds before the milling machine starts.
- Milling Operations — Our milling equipment removes asphalt to the specified depth in controlled passes, producing a consistent, textured surface profile across the entire project area.
- RAP Collection and Removal — Reclaimed asphalt pavement is conveyed directly into trucks during milling and hauled from the site or stockpiled as specified. We coordinate disposal or recycling per your project requirements.
- Surface Inspection — The milled surface is inspected for depth consistency, drainage correction accuracy, and structural readiness for the overlay phase. Any anomalies are identified and addressed before paving begins.
- Overlay Preparation — The milled surface is cleaned and primed with a tack coat adhesive prior to asphalt overlay installation to ensure full bonding between existing and new pavement layers.
Benefits of Asphalt Milling in the Twin Cities Metro
- Precise Overlay Thickness Control — Milling creates a known starting depth across the entire project, allowing the overlay to be installed at a consistent, specified thickness — a critical factor for performance and longevity in Minnesota’s freeze-thaw environment.
- Corrects Elevation Buildup — Decades of overlaying without milling raise pavement surfaces above curbs, drain grates, and entry thresholds. Milling resets elevations so the next overlay fits properly and drains correctly.
- Improves Drainage Profiles — Grade correction milling reshapes surfaces to eliminate ponding and birdbathing — both major contributors to accelerated freeze-thaw damage in the Twin Cities climate.
- Environmentally Responsible — RAP is among the most recycled materials in construction. Milling recovers this material for reuse in new asphalt mixes, reducing landfill waste and demand for virgin aggregate.
- Cost-Effective vs. Full Removal — When the aggregate base is structurally sound, milling is faster and less expensive than full-depth removal — you remove only what needs to come out and preserve the base investment below.
Why Choose Czars of Tar for Asphalt Milling
- Credentialed Commercial Paving Contractor — Czars of Tar’s active memberships in IREM, CAI, MHA, MMHA, and MSCA reflect professional standards that matter to commercial property managers and HOA boards. We understand the accountability that comes with commercial contracts.
- Three-Plus Decades of Milling Experience — Since 1991, we’ve performed milling operations as part of overlay and rehabilitation programs for commercial parking lots, retail centers, industrial facilities, and multi-housing properties across the Twin Cities Metro.
- Fully Transparent Pricing — Your estimate covers every phase — milling, RAP removal, drain adjustments, and overlay preparation — with no surprise costs after the work starts. That’s our standard on every project.
- Single-Source Capability — Czars of Tar handles both milling and overlay installation, eliminating the coordination gaps that come with splitting work between contractors. One call, one contract, complete accountability.
- High-Quality Methods Throughout — We use industry-leading equipment and techniques to achieve accurate, consistent depth control on every pass. The quality of your milling job directly determines the performance of the overlay placed above it.
Asphalt Milling FAQs
What happens to the milled asphalt?
Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is conveyed directly from the milling drum into trucks during the operation and hauled to an asphalt recycling facility. RAP is routinely reused as an ingredient in new asphalt mixes, where it partially replaces virgin aggregate and liquid asphalt binder — making asphalt one of the most recycled building materials in North America.
How do you determine the right milling depth?
We assess the existing pavement thickness, overlay specifications, and elevation relationships at curbs, drains, and building entrances to determine the correct depth. The goal is to produce a surface at the right starting elevation so the new overlay achieves the specified thickness while maintaining correct drainage and clearance at all critical points.
When is milling required vs. a direct overlay?
Milling is necessary when curb clearance, drain elevation, or threshold heights don’t allow another overlay without creating conflicts. It’s also required when grade correction is needed to address standing water. If elevations are acceptable and the existing surface provides a sound bond surface, a direct overlay without milling may be the right call — something we assess honestly during the site visit.
Can you mill around catch basins, manholes, and curb lines?
Yes. Our operators are experienced working around drainage structures, utility covers, and curb lines. We verify elevations at all of these critical points before milling begins to confirm the planned depth achieves correct outcomes across the site.
Related Services
Asphalt milling is typically one phase of a complete rehabilitation program — these services work alongside it:
- Asphalt Overlay — The overlay installation that follows milling for a complete surface rehabilitation
- Rip Out and Replace — Full pavement removal and replacement when milling alone won’t address base failure
- Asphalt Paving — Full-depth asphalt installation for commercial and residential properties
- Parking Lot Paving — Comprehensive parking facility installation and rehabilitation for commercial properties
Schedule Your Asphalt Milling Assessment
Czars of Tar provides professional asphalt milling for commercial parking lots, retail centers, and paved facilities throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area. Call 763-421-6417 or Contact US to schedule your site review. We serve property managers, contractors, and developers across Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Stillwater, and surrounding communities — Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm.
